Eglsaer NamedAcademic Affairs Associate VP

Richard Eglsaer, acting chairman of the Department of Psychology and Philosophy, who was to become permanent chairman in August, instead will become Sam Houston State University's associate vice president for academic affairs June 1.

Eglsaer replaces Don Coers, who is leaving the university to become vice president for academic affairs at Angelo State University.

"Dr. Coers has been a distinguished academic leader for the past five years as associate vice president for academic affairs," said David Payne, vice president for academic affairs. "I am very pleased that Dr. Eglsaer has accepted the difficult assignment of replacing him.

"Dick has been a well respected professor and academic leader at Sam Houston State for many years. He brings a unique mixture of experience, creativity, warmth, humor, and energy to this new assignment and will continue to make outstanding contributions to the university in it."

Eglsaer came to Sam Houston State University in 1983, and since that time has coordinated the school psychology training program. In addition to teaching in the Department of Psychology and serving as acting director for six months, he has been director of the university's honors program since 1993.

He had announced previously that he will step down as director of the honors program at the beginning of the fall semester, but will complete his appointment as chair of the Great Plains Honors Council.

As associate vice president for academic affairs, Eglsaer will oversee the areas of the Academic Enrichment Center, the university's academic services office at the University Center in The Woodlands, correspondence, the honors program, military science, registrar's office and undergraduate admissions.

Prior to coming to SHSU, Eglsaer worked as a middle school language arts teacher in San Antonio. He earned his bachelor's (1971) and master's (1974) degrees from St. Mary's University in San Antonio and his doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin (1979).

After earning his doctorate he worked for the Austin school district as a researcher and subsequently as the assistant principal and psychologist for the Austin school district's alternative high school.

Since coming to Sam Houston State University, Eglsaer's non-teaching activities have included chairing the university's faculty senate in 1991-92. He is currently on the athletic council and has served as executive chair of the library committee for the recently completed Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation process.

He serves or has served on committees or subcommittees on admissions, retention, student profile, institutional image, handicapped students, Orange Key selection and as a general studies adviser.

He has also served as a psychological consultant to a number of area school districts, and has had more than 25 professional publications and presentations.

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